Valuation Guidelines for SBICs

This appendix describes the policies and procedures to which small business investment companies (SBICs or Licensees) must conform in valuing their Loans and Investments and provides guidance as to the techniques and standards which are generally applicable to such valuations.

The need for clearly defined valuation policies and procedures and understandable techniques arises in connection with the requirement that Licensees report the worth of their portfolios to investors and SBA. This information assists SBA in its assessment of the overall operational performance and financial condition of individual Licensees and of the industry.

Overall Guidelines

Definitions

Asset Value means the amount that the general partners or board of directors of a Licensee have established as a current value in accordance with its Valuation Policy.

Marketable Securities means securities for which market quotations are readily available and the market is not "thin", either in absolute terms, or relative to the potentially saleable holdings of the Licensee and other investors with saleable blocks of such securities. These securities are valued as follows: (a) For over-thecounter stocks, taking the average of the bid price at the close for the valuation date and the preceding 2 days, and (b) for listed stocks, taking the average of the close for the valuation date and the preceding 2 days. This classification does not include securities which are subject to resale restrictions, either under securities laws or contractual agreements, although other securities of the same class may be freely marketable.

Other Securities means all Loans and Investments not defined in paragraph A.2 of this section II. Such securities will be valued at Asset Value. Most SBIC investments will fall in this classification.

Valuation Policy means the official document of a Licensee that definitively sets forth the Licensee's methods of valuing Loans and Investments in accordance with the requirements of 13 CFR 107.503 and this appendix.

Objective

The goal of a Licensee's valuation process is to value its Loans and Investments. However, the very nature of Licensees' investments sometimes makes the determination of fair market value problematical. In most cases there is no market for the investment at the time of valuation. Therefore, except where market quotations are readily available and the markets are not "thin", the Boards of Directors or General Partners are necessarily responsible for determining in good faith the value of Loans and Investments.

Determination of value will depend upon the circumstances in each case. No exact formula can be devised that will be generally applicable to the multitude of different valuation issues that will arise. This is especially true for semiannual valuation updates of relatively new investments for which current results either exceed or do not meet the portfolio concern's forecasts. A sound valuation should be based upon all of the relevant facts, with common sense and informed judgement influencing the process of weighing those facts and determining their significance in the aggregate.

General Considerations

The Asset Value of Loans and Investments will depend upon the circumstances of each individual case and will be based upon the nature of the asset and the stage of a company's existence.

In negotiating the terms and conditions of an investment with a portfolio concern, the Licensee, in effect, establishes an initial valuation for the investment, which is cost. Cost will be the Asset Value until there is a basis to increase or decrease the valuation.

Unrealized appreciation should be recognized when warranted, but should be limited to those investments that have a sustained economic basis for an increase in value. Temporary market fluctuations or a temporary increase in earnings should not be the cause or sole reason for appreciation.

Unrealized depreciation should be recorded when portfolio companies show sustained unfavorable financial performance. Continuous close scrutiny of Loans and Investments will provide insight into the business cycles and problems encountered by small business concerns. This insight will allow the Licensee to differentiate between a temporary downturn or setback and a long-term problem indicating a measurable decline in Asset Value.

When a decline in Asset Value appears permanent, a complete or partial write-off of the asset (i.e., recording a realized loss rather than unrealized depreciation) should occur. Some of the more obvious indications of permanent impairment of an investment include the termination of business operations, a petition for bankruptcy protection or liquidation, or the absence of a verifiable forwarding address of the business or its proprietor(s). Less obvious situations may include the loss of major revenue accounts, the shut down of a critical distribution channel, an adverse legal or regulatory ruling, or the expiration of a priority claim on collateral in a distressed Portfolio concern. These and other possible circumstances should be assessed on a case-by-case basis, with supporting documentation on file.

Valuation Responsibility

As specified in 13 CFR 107.503(c), the Board of Directors or General Partners have the sole responsibility for adopting a Licensee’s Valuation Policy and for using it to prepare valuations of the Licensee’s Loans and Investments for submission to SBA. In determining Asset Value, the Board of Directors or General Partners must satisfy themselves that all appropriate factors relevant to a good faith valuation have been considered and that the methods used are reasonable and prudent and are consistently applied. Although the Board of Directors or General Partners have the ultimate responsibility for determining Asset Value, they may appoint management or other persons to assist them in such determinations and to provide supporting data and make the necessary calculations pursuant to the Board's or General Partners' direction. It is essential that a careful, conservative, yet realistic approach be taken by Licensees in determining the Asset Value of each Loan and Investment.

As part of the annual audit of the Licensee's financial statements, the Licensee's independent public accountant has responsibility to review the Licensee's valuation procedures and implementation of such procedures including adequacy of documentation. The independent public accountant also has reporting responsibility regarding the results of this review. For information concerning the conduct of the annual audit, see appendix 14 of this SOP, “Accounting Standards and Financial Reporting Requirements for Small Business Investment Companies”.

Frequency of Valuation

As a general rule, Loans and Investments must be valued individually and in the aggregate by the Board of Directors or General Partners at least semiannually, as of the end of the second and fourth quarters of a Licensee's fiscal year. However, Licensees with no outstanding Leverage or Earmarked Assets (both as defined in 13 CFR 107.50) need only perform valuations once a year. On a case-by-case basis, SBA may require valuations to be made more frequently. Only valuations performed as of the fiscal year-end are required to be reviewed by the Licensee's independent public accountant, as discussed in paragraph D. of this section II. Year-end valuations must be submitted to SBA within 3 months following the end of the Licensee’s fiscal year. Interim valuations must be submitted within 30 days following the close of the reporting period. Material adverse changes in valuations must be reported at least quarterly, within 30 days following the close of the quarter. Since the valuations will only be as sound as the timeliness of the financial information upon which they are based, Licensees must obtain financial statements from portfolio concerns on a regular basis. Monthly financial statements are normally appropriate.

Written Valuation Policy

Each Licensee must establish a written Valuation Policy approved by its Board of Directors or General Partners that includes a statement of policies and procedures that are consistent with Section III of this appendix.

Documentation

Each Licensee must prepare and retain in its permanent files a valuation report as of each valuation date documenting, for each portfolio security, the cost, the current Asset Value and the previous Asset Value, plus the methodology and supporting data used to determine the Asset Value. The minutes of meetings at which valuations are determined will contain a resolution confirming that each portfolio security was valued by the Board of Directors or General Partners in accordance with Licensee's duly adopted valuation procedures. The minutes of such meetings will incorporate by reference the valuation report signed by each Director or General Partner along with any dissenting valuation opinions.

Instructions

A model Valuation Policy is presented in Section III below. Licensees may adopt the model in its entirety or make appropriate modifications, additions or deletions. Any changes, however, must be generally consistent with the model and must be approved by SBA.

A second version of the model Valuation Policy is presented in Section IV. This section repeats the language of Section III, but is expanded to include additional explanatory paragraphs. These paragraphs are commentary provided by SBA to assist Licensees in interpreting and applying some of the model valuation criteria. They may be adapted for inclusion in the Licensee's Valuation Policy, if desired.

Approval

Existing Licensees. Any Licensee that utilizes the exact wording of Section III, without any additions, deletions, or changes will be presumed to have an acceptable Valuation Policy. SBA acknowledges, however, that this wording may not be entirely applicable to all Licensees. A Licensee may adopt a Valuation Policy that is different from Section III with SBA’s prior written approval. If a Licensee wants to make minor changes in the wording of Section III, it is suggested that the Licensee indicate proposed deletions with a caret (^) and underline proposed additions.

License applicants. All applicants for an SBIC license must submit their proposed Valuation Policies for approval as part of the licensing application process.

Model Valuation Policy

General

The [Board of Directors] [General Partners] have sole responsibility for determining the Asset Value of each of the Loans and Investments and of the portfolio in the aggregate.

Loans and Investments will be valued individually and in the aggregate [at least semi-annually, as of the end of the second quarter of the fiscal year and as of the end of the fiscal year.] [at least annually, as of the end of the fiscal year.] Fiscal year-end valuations are audited as set forth in “Accounting Standards and Financial Reporting Requirements for Small Business Investment Companies”, Section IV, paragraph D.

This Valuation Policy is intended to provide a consistent, conservative basis for establishing the Asset Value of the portfolio. The Policy presumes that Loans and Investments are acquired with the intent that they are to be held until maturity or disposed of in the ordinary course of business.

Interest-Bearing Securities

Loans will be valued in an amount not greater than cost, with Unrealized Depreciation being recognized when value is impaired. The valuation of loans and associated interest receivable on interestbearing securities should reflect the portfolio concern's current and projected financial condition and operating results, its payment history and its ability to generate sufficient cash flow to make payments when due.

When a valuation relies more heavily on asset versus earnings approaches, additional criteria should include the seniority of the debt, the nature of any pledged collateral, the extent to which the security interest is perfected, the net liquidation value of tangible business assets, and the personal integrity and overall financial standing of the owners of the business. In those instances where a loan valuation is based on an analysis of certain collateralized assets of a business or assets outside the business, the valuation should, at a minimum, consider the net liquidation value of the collateral after reasonable selling expenses. Under no circumstances, however, shall a valuation based on the underlying collateral be considered as justification for any type of loan appreciation.

Appropriate unrealized depreciation on past due interest which is converted into a security (or added to an existing security) should be recognized when collection is doubtful. Collection is presumed to be in doubt when one or both of the following conditions occur: (i) interest payments are more than 120 days past due; or (ii) the portfolio concern is in bankruptcy, insolvent, or there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.

The carrying value of interest-bearing securities will not be adjusted for changes in interest rates.

The valuation of convertible debt may be adjusted to reflect the value of the underlying equity security net of the conversion price.

Equity Securities - Private Companies

Investment cost is presumed to represent value except as indicated elsewhere in these guidelines.

Valuation should be reduced if a company's performance and potential have significantly deteriorated. If the factors which led to the reduction in valuation are overcome, the valuation may be restored.

The anticipated pricing of a portfolio concern's future equity financing should be considered as a basis for recognizing Unrealized Depreciation, but not for Unrealized Appreciation. If it appears likely that equity will be sold in the foreseeable future at a price below the Licensee's current valuation, then that prospective offering price should be weighed in the valuation process.

Valuation should be adjusted to a subsequent significant equity financing that includes a meaningful portion of the financing by a sophisticated, unrelated new investor. A subsequent significant equity financing that includes substantially the same group of investors as the prior financing should generally not be the basis for an adjustment in valuation. A financing at a lower price by a sophisticated new investor should cause a reduction in value of prior securities.

If substantially all of a significant equity financing is invested by an investor whose objectives are in large part strategic, or if the financing is led by such an investor, it is generally presumed that no more than 50 percent of the increase in investment price compared to the prior significant equity financing is attributable to an increased valuation of the company.

Where a company has been self-financing and has had positive cash flow from operations for at least the past 2 fiscal years, Asset Value may be increased based on a very conservative financial measure regarding P/E ratios or cash flow multiples, or other appropriate financial measures of similar publicly-traded companies, discounted for illiquidity. Should the chosen valuation cease to be meaningful, the valuation may be restored to a cost basis, or in the event of significant deterioration in performance or potential, to a valuation below cost to reflect impairment.

With respect to portfolio companies that are likely to face bankruptcy or discontinue operations for some other reason, liquidating value may be employed. This value may be determined by estimating the realizable value (often through professional appraisals or firm offers to purchase) of all assets and then subtracting all liabilities and all associated liquidation costs.

Warrants should be valued at the excess of the value of the underlying security over the exercise price.

Equity Securities - Public Companies

Public securities should be valued as follows: (a) For over-the-counter stocks, take the average of the bid price at the close for the valuation date and the preceding 2 days, and (b) for listed stocks, take the average of the close for the valuation date and the preceding 2 days.

The valuation of public securities that are restricted should be discounted appropriately until the securities may be freely traded. Such discounts typically range from 10 percent to 40 percent, but the discounts can be more or less, depending upon the resale restrictions under securities laws or contractual agreements.

When the number of shares held is substantial in relation to the average daily trading volume, the valuation should be discounted by at least 10 percent, and generally by more.

Valuation Policy With Supplementary Information

General

The [Board of Directors] [General Partners] have sole responsibility for determining the Asset Value of each of the Loans and Investments and of the portfolio in the aggregate.

Loans and Investments will be valued individually and in the aggregate [at least semi-annually - as of the end of the second quarter of the fiscal year and as of the end of the fiscal year.] [at least annually - as of the end of the fiscal year.] Fiscal year-end valuations are audited as set forth in “Accounting Standards and Financial Reporting Requirements for Small Business Investment Companies”, Section IV, paragraph D.

This Valuation Policy is intended to provide a consistent, conservative basis for establishing the Asset Value of the portfolio. The Policy presumes that Loans and Investments are acquired with the intent that they are to be held until maturity or disposed of in the ordinary course of business.

Interest-Bearing Securities

Loans will be valued in an amount not greater than cost, with Unrealized Depreciation being recognized when value is impaired. The valuation of loans and associated interest receivable on interestbearing securities should reflect the portfolio concern's current and projected financial condition and operating results, its payment history and its ability to generate sufficient cash flow to make payments when due.

When a valuation relies more heavily on asset versus earnings approaches, additional criteria should include the seniority of the debt, the nature of any pledged collateral, the extent to which the security interest is perfected, the net liquidation value of tangible business assets, and the personal integrity and overall financial standing of the owners of the business. In those instances where a loan valuation is based on an analysis of certain collateralized assets of a business or assets outside the business, the valuation should, at a minimum, consider the net liquidation value of the collateral after reasonable selling expenses. Under no circumstances, however, shall a valuation based on the underlying collateral be considered as justification for any type of loan appreciation.

Appropriate unrealized depreciation on past due interest which is converted into a security (or added to an existing security) should be recognized when collection is doubtful. Collection is presumed to be in doubt when one or both of the following conditions occur: (i) interest payments are more than 120 days past due; or (ii) the portfolio concern is in bankruptcy, insolvent, or there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.

Licensees may rebut this presumption by providing evidence of collectibility satisfactory to SBA. Such evidence may include the existence of collateral, the value of which has been verified through an appraisal by an independent professional appraiser acceptable to SBA. Such an appraisal must be at liquidation value (net of liquidation costs) and must have been performed within the 12 months immediately preceding the valuation date. In considering whether collateral provides an appropriate basis for valuations, SBA will review the Licensee's operating history for evidence concerning its willingness and ability to pursue available remedies (including foreclosure) in default situations.

For those Licensees primarily involved in making loans, the use of a loan classification system is strongly encouraged to help manage portfolios and determine Asset Values, with loans that warrant extra attention being flagged by the Licensee's management. Such a "watch list" can also be used to report to the Board of Directors or General Partner(s). For each loan placed on the watch list, a reason or statement should describe the particular situation. Danger signals that should alert the Licensee to potential problems include delinquency, a lack of profitability, weak or decreasing equity, increasing debt load, a deteriorating cash position, an abnormal increase in accounts payable, inaccurate financial information, insurance cancellation, judgments and tax liens, family problems, loss of employees, collateral problems, slowdown in inventory turnover, poor maintenance of plant and equipment, and heavy reliance on short term debt.

Upon careful consideration of all the relevant factors, the Board of Directors or General Partners will determine which loans require recognition of Unrealized Depreciation. It is a good rule of operation for a Licensee to perform downward valuations earlier rather than later. When the quality of a loan recovers, a higher Asset Value may subsequently be assigned.

The carrying value of interest-bearing securities will not be adjusted for changes in interest rates.

The valuation of convertible debt may be adjusted to reflect the value of the underlying equity security net of the conversion price.

Accepted methods for valuing convertible debentures generally involve one of two approaches. The first approach views the debenture as a debt obligation. Under this approach, the Licensee should utilize the loan valuation techniques described in this section above. The second approach considers the conversion of all convertible securities of the same class into their common stock equivalent, taking into account dilution, and a subsequent valuation of the Licensee's proportionate equity interest. Valuation of this equity interest should follow the equity valuation techniques described in Paragraph C. of this section.

Normally, the reported value is the higher of these two alternatives. However, Licensees should disregard higher equity values and retain lower debt-based valuations if there are circumstances which make conversion undesirable. When equity considerations govern the Asset Value assigned, all underlying factors should be disclosed.

Equity Securities - Private Companies

Investment cost is presumed to represent value except as indicated elsewhere in these guidelines.

Valuation should be reduced if a company's performance and potential have significantly deteriorated. If the factors which led to the reduction in valuation are overcome, the valuation may be restored.

The anticipated pricing of a Portfolio concern's future equity financing should be considered as a basis for recognizing Unrealized Depreciation, but not for Unrealized Appreciation. If it appears likely that equity will be sold in the foreseeable future at a price below the Licensee's current valuation, then that prospective offering price should be weighed in the valuation process.

Valuation should be adjusted to a subsequent significant equity financing that includes a meaningful portion of the financing by a sophisticated, unrelated new investor. A subsequent significant equity financing that includes substantially the same group of investors as the prior financing should generally not be the basis for an adjustment in valuation. A financing at a lower price by a sophisticated new investor should cause a reduction in value of prior securities.

If substantially all of a significant equity financing is invested by an investor whose objectives are in large part strategic, or if the financing is led by such an investor, it is generally presumed that no more than 50 percent of the increase in investment price compared to the prior significant equity financing is attributable to an increased valuation of the company.

Where a company has been self-financing and has had positive cash flow from operations for at least the past 2 fiscal years, Asset Value may be increased based on a very conservative financial measure regarding P/E ratios or cash flow multiples, or other appropriate financial measures of similar publicly-traded companies, discounted for illiquidity. Should the chosen valuation cease to be meaningful, the valuation may be restored to a cost basis, or in the event of significant deterioration in performance or potential, to a valuation below cost to reflect impairment.

Under these conditions, valuation factors that may be considered include:

The utilization of a multiple of earnings, cash flow, or revenues, which are commensurate with the multiples which the market currently accords to comparable companies in similar businesses and industries, with an appropriate discount for conditions such as illiquidity or a minority position. Care should be taken to use only comparable companies, including not only business similarities but also similarities as to size, financial condition, and earnings outlook. However, in order for comparative market prices to be meaningful, data for a representative sample of similar companies must be available.

Among the more important factors to be considered in a particular case are (i) the nature of the business, (ii) the risk involved, and (iii) the growth, stability or irregularity of earnings and cash flows. A company with a positive earnings trend and a favorable outlook may command a capitalization factor (multiplier) in the marketplace that will result in a stock valuation well above book value. When the gross value of a portfolio concern is computed by applying a capitalization rate to pre-interest, pre-tax earnings, the value of equity securities is derived by subtracting the outstanding debt of the concern from the gross value. While capitalization rates do vary, an appropriate rate can be determined by analyzing rates for comparable companies in the same industry. Investigating similar companies in the same industry or geographic area can be done directly or through published material from sources such as the Value Line, Standard and Poor's, Robert Morris and Associates, or any other of the numerous sources available for comparative industry data.

Another method discounts the present value of estimated future proceeds to a Licensee, including dividend income and sales of securities, using a discount rate that reflects the degree of risk of the equity interest.

One may also utilize the recent sale prices of comparable blocks of the issuer's securities in arm's length transactions.

Equity interests or limited partnership interests without the benefit of stock certificates and which generally define a certain percentage of the profits to be allocated to each of the investors based on its relative contributions should be valued in a manner similar to the valuation methods described in this section.

With respect to portfolio companies that are likely to face bankruptcy or discontinue operations for some other reason, liquidating value may be employed. This value may be determined by estimating the realizable value (often through professional appraisals or firm offers to purchase) of all assets and then subtracting all liabilities and all associated liquidation costs.

Liquidation value will depend on the decreasing value of wasting assets, the costs experienced by the business being liquidated, the expenses borne by the Licensee in order to be able to realize any liquidating value, the elapsed time until such net proceeds can be realized, the ranking of the Licensee's claims relative to other security interests and subordination agreements, and the probability of any ultimate realization of value.

Incorporating this approach as a normal step in valuation can provide improved understanding of the downside of an investment.

Licensees should recognize unrealized appreciation or depreciation, as appropriate, on Assets Acquired in liquidation of Loans and Investments. In order to recognize Unrealized Appreciation, asset values must be verified by an appraisal which meets all the conditions specified in the preceding paragraph; Provided, however, that if the assets acquired constitute a going concern, such assets may be appraised as a going concern rather than at liquidation value. Unrealized Appreciation may not be recognized if the Licensee does not benefit from such appreciation. For example, an asset acquired through foreclosure should not be carried at a value greater than the defaulted loan balance plus any expenses and penalties to which the Licensee is entitled.

Warrants should be valued at the excess of the value of the underlying security over the exercise price.

Valuation of debt with detachable warrants can be done similarly to convertible debt by treating the debt and warrants as a unit, or, alternatively, the debt can be valued on its own basis as a debt instrument, and the warrants separately. If the warrants are valued separately, the following factors must be taken into account:

Current value of issued shares.

The differential between the exercise price and the underlying share values if the current share values are higher than the exercise price.

Time until expiration dates are reached or dates of changes in terms of exercise prices.

Number of shares into which the warrants are exercisable on various dates.

Restrictions on sale of the underlying stock.

Restrictions on the transferability of the warrants.

Registration rights for the warrants or the underlying shares.

Financial ability of the Licensee to perform the exercise of its rights or to sell its warrants.

The ultimate desirability, if any, of exercising the rights given by the warrants.

Equity Securities - Public Companies

Public securities should be valued as follows: (a) For over-the-counter stocks, take the average of the bid price at the close for the valuation date and the preceding 2 days, and (b) for listed stocks, take the average of the close for the valuation date and the preceding 2 days.

However, securities are not deemed to be freely marketable in those situations where such securities are very thinly or infrequently traded, or may be lacking in truly representative market quotations, or where the market for such securities cannot absorb the quantity of shares which the Licensee and similar investors may want to sell.

In such cases, Asset Value must be determined by the Board of Directors or General Partners.

The valuation of public securities that are restricted should be discounted appropriately until the securities may be freely traded. Such discounts typically range from 10 percent to 40 percent, but the discounts can be more or less, depending upon the resale restrictions under securities laws or contractual agreements.

When the number of shares held is substantial in relation to the average daily trading volume, the valuation should be discounted by at least 10 percent, and generally by more.